Calif. Treasurer for Charities and Politicians Gets 8 Years for Fraud

A California bookkeeper who handled money for many of the state's top Democratic politicians and dozens of nonprofit groups was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison for bilking millions of dollars from her clients, the Sacramento Bee reports. U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller also ordered Kinde Durkee, who pleaded guilty to fraud charges in March, to pay more than $10.5-million in restitution.

Prosecutors said Ms. Durkee made hundreds of unauthorized transfers over a 12-year period, wiping out the accounts of some of the smaller charities and campaign committees whose funds she controlled. Her attorneys said she used the money primarily to keep her struggling accounting firm afloat and to care for her elderly parents.